Category Archives: Teaching

Remedial writers are better than Advanced writers?

Yeah, it’s a grabby title. But in at least one small example of mine this is true. And I’ll try to explain why. I teach in a Freshman Studies program here at St. Ed’s. My particular section is Science & … Continue reading

Organizing THATCamps and handling different skill levels

I’m just finishing up hosting the THATCamp LAC conference and I’ve had some issues with different skill levels in the participants. Specifically, we are dealing with both a wide number of participants who are very new to the field and … Continue reading

Prezi for Annotated Bibliographies

Like many of you, I’ve got a love-hate relationship with annotated bibliographies. Love the way that it gets students to really read the source and think about what it says. They just won’t do that if their first exposure to a … Continue reading

The psychology of audience-free freshman essays

Teaching writing to a specific audience is like learning karate (trust me – it makes sense) Disclaimer: This post is a thought-in progress. Hence, the ideas will be underdeveloped from where I eventually want them to land. And it will … Continue reading

Personality tests for group work

It’s an idea I’ve been batting around with – assigning groups based on personality tests. I first thought of doing a Myers-Briggs styled personality inventory. But that would give me FAR more information than I needed. I really don’t want … Continue reading

Badge-ifying the University, or why commodifying the esoteric could be a good thing

This post has been inspired by a handful of sources. The barrage of op-ed pieces of late attacking higher ed as flawed and/or irrelevant (e.g., here and here). Alex Reid’s posts on “reputation badges.” And a recent discussion group at … Continue reading

Alternatives to the “research paper”

I’ll come right out and say it: I hate the “academic research paper” Not sure I can be any more blunt than that. I see the academic research paper as an entirely artificial genre, one that has no known equivalent outside … Continue reading

Introducing: Texting backchannel for your class

I love backchannel conversations. Those tweeted conversations that take place during a conference presentation or a significant speech. They’re a fantastic way to engage with others while the topic is still fresh. And I’ve heard rumors of more and more … Continue reading

THATCamp LAC: Digital Humanities goes unconferenced

This past week I attended my first THATCamp, one specifically for liberal arts colleges (LAC) and put on by the good people at St. Norbert College in DePere, WI. And though I showed up with a few reservations about attending … Continue reading